Looking back on my journey as a leader, I can say it’s been a rollercoaster of failures, triumphs, and everything in between. There were times I fell flat on my face, and other times I felt like I was exactly where I was meant to be, totally in flow. Those highs and lows? They've shaped the leader I am today.
When I was first promoted to a board director role, managing a team of 45, I had no clue what I was doing. Imagine it: here’s your new car, that’s your office, now go lead. No leadership program, no guide, no safety net—just me, thrown straight into the deep end.
Since I’m naturally a people-centred person, I went to the team, just to get to know them, hear what they wanted from their roles, and learn what they needed from me. So, I started with the basics: listening. I knew one thing—they didn’t need me doing their work for them. But what was my role then? I had to figure it out, and let's just say, it was a process.
In hindsight, I wish I’d had a coach—a voice in my ear, helping me see who I was and who I needed to be. If I could coach my younger self now, here’s what I’d say:
Embrace Change with Curiosity
Change isn’t easy, especially when you can’t control it. I had to lead my team through the sale of the business to venture capitalists—a massive, anxiety-inducing change. The board had already decided; my job was to keep the team steady. And transparency? That wasn’t an option. Every day, they’d ask, "What’s going on?" and every day, I had to keep calm and give only what I could. If I’d had the wisdom then, I’d have told myself: be as transparent as you can, but be honest when you don’t know or can’t share. Let the team know you’re in their corner, asking the right questions on their behalf. And yes, encourage them to keep the questions coming.
Cultivate a Growth Mindset
Rumi’s wisdom has often been a guiding light for me, especially when he said, “Try not to resist the changes that come your way. Instead, let life live through you.” Growing up as an RAF kid, we moved constantly, so change and adaptability are part of my DNA. But even so, I’ve learned there’s always another side, a silver lining if you’re open to it. For me, the sale of the business led to a golden handshake, a fresh career path, and—surprise!—my first child. Life was redirecting me. And that’s the thing: new phases often bring new opportunities. So, when life flips the script, ask yourself, "What’s the opportunity here?"
Lead with Purpose and Presence
I won’t lie—during the sale of the business, there were days I barely felt like getting out of bed. My mind ran wild, spinning scenarios I couldn’t control. And isn’t that the hard part? We start in a job we love, but then we’re promoted, and suddenly, the decisions feel weightier, the path less certain. Many of my coaching clients come to me with this very feeling—a sense of drifting in a sea of endless choices and no compass in sight. What’s helped me, and what I share with them, is a simple daily practice: before sitting down at my desk, I tune into how I’m feeling that day. I breathe, I focus on the present, because really, that’s all we ever have.
Here’s a little breathing mantra I love:
“Breathing in, I calm my body. Breathing out, I smile. Dwelling in the present moment, I know this is a wonderful moment.”
It might sound small, but when we’re tangled in stories our minds spin about things that haven’t even happened, a little breathing can feel like a gentle breeze clearing the fog. And that clarity? It helps me lead with intention and presence.
So here’s my takeaway:
Embrace Change with Curiosity: When things get unpredictable, stay open and ask questions—of yourself and your team.
Cultivate a Growth Mindset: See every twist and turn as an opportunity in disguise.
Lead with Purpose and Presence: Anchor yourself in the moment. It’ll help you stay grounded and focused when the seas get rough.
In the end, we’re all on this journey of becoming, of figuring out who we are as leaders, and learning to thrive in uncertainty. And that’s what makes it so powerful.
In the end, rethinking leadership means evolving beyond old norms, embracing curiosity, courage, and calm as our guides. Here’s to those of us redefining what it means to lead—let’s keep rethinking leadership together.
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